PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (AFP) – DR Congo’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign was thrown into confusion on Friday with claims, subsequently denied, that coach Claude Le Roy had resigned.
Both Congolese Nyota TV and the official website of TP Mazembe, who provide many of the players in the squad for South Africa, reported the 64-year-old Frenchman had quit.
Le Roy, in his second spell with DR Congo, was reported to have handed a letter to the football federation official in charge of the team, Theo Binamungu.
His apparent resignation, 48 hours before the team kick-off their campaign against Ghana, was blamed on poor management of the team, while uncertainty also surrounds the issue of tournament bonuses.
Later however, reports emerged from Kinshasa suggesting Le Roy was still in his job, with DR Congo football federation president Constant Omari denying the news in a text message to sports minister, Banza Nukaley Nsungu.
The players are believed to support Le Roy’s decision.
DR Congo take on Ghana who are one of the favourites to win the tournament on Sunday at Port Elizabeth in the opening Group D match.